The Domestic Violence Prevention Council (DVPC) was established in 1997 as an independent statutory body under the Domestic Violence Agencies Act 1986. The Council’s authority and accountabilities are shaped by legislation and the Council Standing Orders. The Council is the peak body to offer advice to the ACT Attorney-General on issues relevant to its responsibilities on domestic violence.

Domestic and Family violence (including sexual violence) is happening in our ACT community and it has significant impacts. WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Our objective is to reduce the incidence of domestic violence offences in the ACT

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The Domestic Violence Prevention Council recently undertook two consultations to inform our work, which closed on 31 January 2015. A wide range of organisations and individuals in the ACT contributed to them.

The Council sought views and ideas to inform it’s contribution about the content for the ACT’s 2nd Implementation Plan. The ACT is currently developing its 2nd Implementation Plan to support the ACT Prevention of Violence Against Women Strategy 2011-17. One of the Council’s strategic priorities is that ‘women experiencing violence receive consistent, effective responses from the criminal justice system, and that the system holds perpetrators to account’. Over time the ACT’s criminal justice system has been adapted to improve the response to family and domestic violence – in particular to treat it as a crime; hold the perpetrator accountable; protect the victim; and coordinate the criminal justice system’s response to the problem. The Domestic Violence Prevention Council sought views and ideas on what more could be done in terms of the Criminal justice system and how it operates beyond what has been done so far?

Information about domestic violence in the ACT

Domestic violence can happen to anyone. Also called intimate partner violence, it takes many forms -including physical, financial, emotional, psychological and sexual violence. Domestic violence is about power and control, and involves violent, abusive or intimidating. It can affect anyone in the community, regardless of their gender, age, disability, sexual identity, race, culture, ethnicity, religion, economic status or location. It does not have to be within the home to be classified as domestic violence.

Advice and information – where to get help in the ACT

There is a range of information, advice and organisations, in the ACT that are available to help you if you are experiencing domestic or sexual violence, want to know how to help others who are experiencing domestic or sexual violence, or want to know what assistance is available for people who are using violence.